September 2026 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for a Rossini in Wildbad production of Gioachino Rossini's La gazza ladra by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of September 2026
1. Carmen Villain- Memoria
Unforgettable.

2. András Schiff- Johannes Brahms: Klavierstücke
One-hundred minutes of splendor.

3. Oren Ambarchi- Cooked
My review.

4. Linda Sikhakhane- L I N D A
Produced by Nduduzo Makhathini.

5. Charlie Hunter- AM Clock Radio
My related review.

6. Kris Davis Trio- Lost in Geneva
With Robert Hurst and Johnathan Blake.

7. Jhené Aiko- Westside Whimsy
Bow down.

8. Lise Davidsen- Verdi
Arias.

9. Thee Sinseers- Love Stories
Top-tier retro-soul.

10. Arab Strap- Half-Told Tales
Transgressive fiction.

The Top Three Reimaginings of September 2026
1. Adam Wiltzie and Jóhann Jóhannsson- Friendship Survival Guide
Confidants.

2. Paul Griffiths and JACK Quartet- Samuel Beckett: Stirrings Still, with Music by Trevor Bača
Beckett in the bardo.

3. Branford Marsalis Quartet and Dianne Reeves- Dedicated to You
Lush life.

The Top Ten Songs of September 2026
1. Lizz Wright and Kenny Banks- “Deep River”
Crossing over.

2. Anna Butterss- “Beginningless”
Eternal.

3. Cyst- “Pest”
Infestation.

4. Original Koffee- “OVA SO”
Jamaican time machine.

5. Show Me the Body- "Rock Music"
Ultrameta OK.

6. Gilla Band- “Crisp Pop”
Queasy post-punk.

7. Rio Da Yung Og- "Milwaukee Bucks"
Brewtown.

8. AZ Chike and Tyler The Creator- “The World Is Ours”
Dream team.

9. Tania Giannouli and Nik Bärtsch- “Intonal”
Dueling pianos.

10. Jenny Scheinman- “Turns the Wagon Wheel”
Rolling.

The Top Ten Performances of September 2026
1. Bilal and Yaya Bey at Star Theater
My review.

2.  Zoh Amba and Bijoux Cone at Show Bar
My review.

3. Dae Bryant’s The Collective at the Montavilla Jazz Festival
My review.

4. Public Image Ltd. and Plague Vendor at Wonder Ballroom
My review.

5. Alden Hellmuth at the 1905
My review.

6. Four for King: The Life, Spirit, and Music of Nancy King at the Montavilla Jazz Festival
My review.

7. Wen’ipt at the Montavilla Jazz Festival
My review.

8. Gregory Allison at the Woodstock Farmers Market
My Instagram clip.

9. W4RP Trio at the Montavilla Jazz Festival
My Instagram clip.

10. Jenny Sizzler at Starday Tavern
My Instagram snapshot.

The previous monthly recap is here.

March 2026 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Screenshot of the trailer for Opéra Comique’s production of Matthias Pintscher’s “Nuit sans aube” by There Stands the Glass.

The Top Ten Albums of March 2026
1. Irreversible Entanglements- Future Present Past
Stellar vibrations.

2. Ye- Bully
All is not forgiven, but Bully is undeniably excellent.

3. Alex Isley- When the City Sleeps
Diamond life.

4. Adam O’Farrill- ELEPHANT
Big ears.

5. Sylvie Courvoisier- Éclats: Live in Europe
With Drew Gress and Kenny Wollesen.

6. Mike Will Made-It- R3SET
A cavalcade of stars.

7. Immanuel Wilkins Quartet- Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. 1 
Ascension.

8. Dave Adewumi- The Flame Beneath the Silence 
With Joel Ross, Linda May Oh Han and Marcus Gilmore.

9. Jorge Drexler- Taracá
MPB via Uruguay.

10. Lise Davidsen- Live at the Met
A reprehensible recording of a ripping recital.

The Top Three Reissues and Reimaginings of March 2026
1. Alice Sara Ott- Jóhann Jóhannsson: Piano Works
Solo piano renderings.

2. Aerosmith- Aerosmith: Legendary Expanded Edition
The lines on his face have never been clearer.

3. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra- Let Freedom Swing
History geeks and freedom fighters only.

The Top Ten Songs of March 2026
1. aja monet featuring Meshell Ndegeocello and Georgia Anne Muldrow- “elsewhere”
Heavenly.

2. Gabrielle Cavassa- “Angelo”
Swoonworthy.

3. Leikeli47- "Bad Guy"
Beez in the trap.

4. Jessie Ware- “Automatic”
Instinctive.

5. CA7RIEL & Paco Amoroso- “Ha Ha”
Hee haw.

6. Vince Gill- "Lonely's What I Do"
He’s gonna fill their shoes.

7. Jim Lauderdale- “We Don’t See You Anymore”
Long gone.

8. Luke Combs- “Alcohol of Fame”
There stands the glass.

9. Elucid featuring Shabaka- "Equiano"
“The Interesting Narrative of…”

10. Dry Socket- “The Chop”
Portland hardcore.

The Top Ten Performances of March 2026
Due to a transformative life event, I attended only six performances in March.

The previous monthly recap is here.

March 2022 Recap: A Monthly Exercise in Critical Transparency

Original image of the curtain call of UMKC Conservatory’s Così fan tutte by There Stands the Glass.

Top Ten Albums (Released in March)

1. Rosalía- Motomami

Unparalleled pop.

2. Jóhann Jóhannsson- Drone Mass

Lethal minimalism.

3. Nigo- I Know Nigo!

Elite rappers (and Kid Cudi) collaborate with the polymath.

4. Brad Mehldau- Jacob's Ladder

My review.

5. Benny the Butcher- Tana Talk 4

Buffalo barbarity.

6. Drug Church- Hygiene

Unclean.

7. François-Xavier Roth and Les Siècles- Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande

A ravishing rendition of the mesmirizing opera.

8. Sélène Saint-Aimé- Potomitan

Expansive jazz from France.

9. Destroyer- ​​Labyrinthitis

A not entirely embarrassing form of yacht rock.

10. Cécile McLorin Salvant- Ghost Song

Spectral art music.

Top Ten Songs (Released in March)

1. Kae Tempest and Lianne La Havas- "No Prizes"

Gold.

2. Celeste- “To Love a Man”

Torched.

3. Fana Hues- "Bad Bad"

Wicked good.

4. Normani- "Fair"

Un-break my heart.

5. The Supremes- “Witchi-Tai-To”

Wut.

6. Your Old Droog- “Fela Kruti”

“Music for people who check their email in the club.”

7. Ibibio Sound Machine- “17 18 19”

Rock down to electric avenue.

8. Lous and the Yakuza- “Kisé”

Mosh pit? Mosh pit!

9. Megan Thee Stallion and Dua Lupa- “Sweetest Pie”

Irresistible empty calories.

10. Ho9909 featuring Bun B- "Slo Bread"

Inspired collaboration.

Top Ten Performances of March

1. Sparks- Crystal Ballroom

My review.

2. Godspeed You! Black Emperor- Roseland Theater

My review.

3. UMKC Conservatory’s Così fan tutte- White Recital Hall

My Instagram snapshot.

4. Ted Poor and Cuong Vu- Jack London Revue

My review.

5. Steve Cardenas- recordBar

My review.

6. Arnold Young and the RoughTet- The Ship

My review.

7. Vanessa Rubin- Lincoln Hall

My review.

8. Timber Rattle- 9th & State

My review.

9. Angela Ward Trio- Blue Room

Herbie Hancock endorsed my Instagram video.

10. Pat Metheny in Kansas City: The Genesis of Genius- Polsky Theatre

My review.

Last month’s survey is here.

Album Review: Jóhann Jóhannsson- Blind Massage and The Shadow Play

I swapped music recommendations with two young men I met at Mary Lattimore’s wondrous recital at the Lied Center seven weeks ago.  Their tastes leaned toward abrasive underground electronica.  They probably share my appreciation for Iceboy Violet’s stunning new mixtape.  

After eagerly adding their suggestions to my queue, I tipped them to Jóhann Jóhannsson, the late Icelandic composer who has provided me with countless hours of inspiration.  Jóhannsson’s expansive catalog grew 70 minutes longer last week when a pair of original motion picture soundtracks he created with Jonas Colstrup for Chinese films became available on streaming services.

Jóhannsson’s contribution to the 2014 film Blind Massage (推拿) falls somewhere between the indolent ambience of Harold Budd and the melodic brilliance of Nino Rota on tracks including  "If There Is an Afterlife".  The ominously abrasive "Midnight Highway" typifies the sound of the very different score for 2018’s The Shadow Play (风中有朵雨做的云).

Given the infrequency of concerts by prominent new music artists in the region, I don’t expect to see my acquaintances until William Basinsky performs in Lawrence in October.  My cultish adoration of the composer won’t be diminished even if they’ve opted to dismiss Jóhannsson as a soporific shill.